As egg prices continue to climb because of bird-flu cases and persistent inflation, consumers are feeling squeezed.
New York’s average egg price has increased from $4.23 a dozen in November to $6.10 as of January 10, according to data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and prices could continue to rise.
Here’s what to know about egg prices in the Rochester area.
Current egg prices at smaller grocery stores in the Rochester area
Here are the cheapest egg prices you can find at Herrema’s Marketplace in Irondequoit and the Gates Big M as of Monday, Feb. 10:
Herrema’s Marketplace, 125 Pattonwood Drive, Irondequoit
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Eggland’s Best Grade A Organic Cage-Free Large Brown Eggs, a dozen: $4.99
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Giroux’s Poultry Farm’s Grade A Vegetarian-Fed Cage-Free Large Brown Eggs, a dozen: $4.99
Gates Big M, 1520 Spencerport Road, Gates
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Best Yet Grade A Large White Eggs, a dozen: $8.49
Current egg prices at supermarkets in the Rochester area
Some stores are putting buying limits on packages of eggs.
Here are the cheapest egg prices you can find at the East Avenue Wegmans, Tops in Brighton, ALDI in Irondequoit and Walmart in Henrietta as of Monday, Feb. 10:
Wegmans, 1750 East Ave., Rochester
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Wegmans brand Grade AA Cage-Free Large White Eggs: $4.79
Tops, 1900 S. Clinton Ave., Brighton
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Tops brand Grade AA Large White Eggs: $6.59 or $5.89 with a Tops BonusPlus card
The store’s weekly sales include a dozen Grade AA Medium White Eggs for $2.99, but there is limit of two cartons per customer.
ALDI, 2194 Hudson Ave., Irondequoit
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Goldhen Grade A Large White Eggs, a dozen: $4.67
Currently, the limit is two packages per customer per day.
Goldhen eggs at ALDI are $4.67 a dozen, and there is a limit of two containers per customer per day.
Walmart, 1200 Marketplace Drive, Henrietta
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Great Value Grade A Large Brown Eggs, a dozen: $5.72. Walmart also sells 18-packs of the same eggs for $5.87.
Current egg prices at specialty grocery stores in the Rochester area
Here are the cheapest egg prices you can find at Trader Joe’s in Pittsford and Whole Foods Market in Brighton as of Monday, Feb. 10:
Trader Joe’s, 3349 Monroe Ave., Pittsford
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Trader Joe’s Cage-Free Grade A Large White Eggs, a dozen: $3.49
Currently, the limit is one package per customer per day.
Whole Foods Market, 2740 Monroe Ave., Brighton
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Nellie’s Free Range Grade A Large Brown Eggs, a dozen: $6.99
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Pete & Jerry’s Pasture Raised Grade A Large Brown Eggs: $6.99 for a package of 18.
Currently, the limit is three packages per customer per day.
How avian flu spreads: Can you get bird flu from eating eggs or chicken?
Why are egg prices so high?
The least expensive eggs at Whole Foods Market are $6.99 for a dozen Nellie’s Free Range Eggs or 18 Pete & Gerry’s Pasture Raised Eggs.
The highly pathogenic avian influenza, or bird flu, outbreak is the most obvious reason for the country’s egg problem, USA TODAY reported. The outbreak strain, H5N1, has become the largest such outbreak in the U.S.
Seven cases of bird flu in live bird markets in Queens, the Bronx and Brooklyn since Jan. 31 led to the temporary closure of around 80 markets in New York City and Westchester, Suffolk and Nassau counties last week. As a result, no poultry can be delivered to any of the live bird markets in the five boroughs as well as Westchester, Suffolk and Nassau counties through Feb. 14.
Inflation is also a contributing factor, USA TODAY says, as the cost of manufacturing and shipping products has increased all around, hitting the agricultural industry hard. With the prices of everything from gas to feed on the upswing, so too is the price of getting eggs on shelves.
When will egg prices come back down?
It’s unclear. Supply and prices will stabilize only when farms and producers can recover their stock of healthy laying hens, USA TODAY reported, which is reflected in USDA market forecast reports, which show decreasing production predictions for the upcoming year.
Comparing egg prices from December to December 2023, the latest price information available from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Consumer Price Index, egg prices have increased nationwide by 65.1%. The average cost in December 2024 for a dozen Grade A eggs in the U.S. was $4.15 compared to $2.51 in December 2023.
What to know: Bird flu temporarily shuts down live bird markets in NYC area
Are some grocery stores limiting egg purchases?
Yes, some grocery stores, like Tops, ALDI, Trader Joe’s and Whole Foods in the Rochester area, are limiting egg purchases to try and curb shortages.
And a Walmart spokesperson Tuesday told the USA TODAY Network the retailer was only limiting egg purchases for 60-count cartons to two per purchase to “help ensure more customers can have access to eggs,” according to an email from a Walmart representative.
Contributing: USA TODAY Network
Emily Barnes reports on consumer-related issues for the USA TODAY Network’s New York Connect Team, focusing on scam and recall-related topics. Follow her on Twitter and Instagram @byemilybarnes. Get in touch at [email protected].
Reporter Marcia Greenwood covers general assignments and has an interest in retail news. Send story tips to [email protected]. Follow her on X @MarciaGreenwood.
This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: Looking for cheap eggs in Rochester NY? Here’s what you’ll pay
